MODULE 4: ANALYTIC GEOMETRY
Lesson 3: Ellipse
Subject: MATH 100
Teacher: Engr. Reginald N. Altalaguire
Ellipse
An ellipse is the set of points in a plane the sum of whose distances from two fixed
points (foci) is a constant.
Parts of an Ellipse:
a. In an ellipse, there are two axes of symmetry: major axis and minor axis .
b. The points of the ellipse on the major axis are called vertices 𝑉1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 . The
points of the ellipse on the minor axis are called covertices 𝐶𝑉1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑉2 .
c. The point of intersection of the axes is called the center ( C ) . The foci 𝐹1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2
are on the major axis.
Properties of an Ellipse:
a. 𝑑𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡→𝐹1 + 𝑑𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡→𝐹2 = 2𝑎
b. 𝑑𝐹1 →𝐹2 = 2𝑐
𝑑𝑉1 →𝑉2 = 2𝑎
𝑑𝐶𝑉1 →𝐶𝑉2 = 2𝑏
2 𝑎2
𝑑𝑙1 →𝑙2 = 𝑐
c. 𝑎 > 𝑏 , 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2
General Equation of the Ellipse
The General Equation of the Ellipse is:
𝐴 𝑥 2 + 𝐵 𝑦 2 + 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐸 = 0
where 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝐷 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛, 𝐴 ≠ 𝐵
Horizontal Ellipse (horizontal major axis)
2 2
Standard form of the equation 𝑥−ℎ 𝑦−𝑘
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
Parts of Ellipse:
Center 𝐶 ℎ, 𝑘
Vertices 𝑉1 ℎ − 𝑎, 𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 ℎ + 𝑎, 𝑘
Foci 𝐹1 ℎ − 𝑐, 𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 ℎ + 𝑐, 𝑘
Covertices 𝐶𝑉1 ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑉2 ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑏
Directrices 𝑎2 𝑎2
𝑥=ℎ− 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = ℎ +
𝑐 𝑐
Major Axis 𝑦=𝑘
Minor Axis 𝑥=ℎ
Vertical Ellipse (vertical major axis)
2 2
Standard form of the equation 𝑦−𝑘 𝑥−ℎ
+ =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
Parts of Ellipse:
Center 𝐶 ℎ, 𝑘
Vertices 𝑉1 ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑎
Foci 𝐹1 ℎ, 𝑘 − 𝑐 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑐
Covertices 𝐶𝑉1 ℎ − 𝑏, 𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑉2 ℎ + 𝑏, 𝑘
Directrices 𝑎2 𝑎2
𝑦=𝑘− 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 𝑘 +
𝑐 𝑐
Major Axis 𝑥=ℎ
Minor Axis 𝑦=𝑘
Example 1. Ellipse
Find the parts of the ellipse 16 𝑥 2 + 9 𝑦 2 = 144 Sketch its graph.
SOLUTION:
16 𝑥 2 + 9 𝑦 2 = 144
1 2 2
1
16 𝑥 + 9 𝑦 = 144
144 144
𝑥2 𝑦2
+ =1
9 16
𝑦2 𝑥2 Standard form of the equation
+ =1
16 9
𝑎2 = 16
𝑎2 = 16
𝑎=4
𝑏2 = 9
𝑏2 = 9
𝑏=3
Since 𝑎 > 𝑏 , 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒.
𝑐= 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 16 − 9
𝑐= 7
Standard form of equation 𝑦2 𝑥2
+ =1
16 9
Parts of Ellipse:
Center 𝐶 0, 0
Vertices 𝑉1 0, −4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 0, 4
Foci 𝐹1 0, − 7 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 0, 7
Covertices 𝐶𝑉1 −3, 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑉2 3, 0
Directrices −16 7 16 7
𝑦= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 =
7 7
Major Axis 𝑥=0
Minor Axis 𝑦=0
Example 2. Ellipse
Sketch the graph of the ellipse
2 2
𝑥+1 𝑦−2
+ =1
4 9
Determine its parts.
SOLUTION:
2 2
𝑥+1 𝑦−2
+ =1
4 9
2 2
𝑦−2 𝑥+1 Standard form of the equation
+ =1
9 4
𝑎2 = 9
𝑎2 = 9
𝑎=3
𝑏2 = 4
𝑏2 = 4
𝑏=2
Since 𝑎 > 𝑏 , 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒.
𝑐= 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 9 − 4
𝑐= 5
2 2
Standard form of the equation 𝑦−2 𝑥+1
+ =1
9 4
Parts of Ellipse:
Center 𝐶 −1, 2
Vertices 𝑉1 −1, −1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 −1, 5
Foci 𝐹1 −1, 2 − 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 −1, 2 + 5
Covertices 𝐶𝑉1 −3, 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑉2 1, 2
Directrices 9 5 9 5
𝑦=2− 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 2 +
5 5
Major Axis 𝑥 = −1
Minor Axis 𝑦=2
Example 3. Ellipse
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 2 + 150 𝑦 + 200 = 0 is the general equation of the ellipse. Find its parts.
Sketch the graph.
SOLUTION:
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 2 + 150 𝑦 + 200 = 0 General equation of the ellipse
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 2 + 150 𝑦 + 200 + −200 =
− 200
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 2 + 150 𝑦 = −200
𝑥 2 + (25 𝑦 2 + 150 𝑦) = −200
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 2 + 6𝑦 + 9 = −200 + 225
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 + 3 2
= 25
1 1
𝑥 2 + 25 𝑦 + 3 2
= 25
25 25
𝑥2 2
Standard form of the equation
+ 𝑦+3 =1
25
𝑎2 = 25
𝑎2 = 25
𝑎=5
𝑏2 = 1
𝑏2 = 1
𝑏=1
Since 𝑎 > 𝑏 , 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒.
𝑐= 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = 25 − 1 = 24
𝑐=2 6
Standard form of equation 𝑥2 2
+ 𝑦+3 =1
25
Parts of Ellipse:
Center 𝐶 0, −3
Vertices 𝑉1 −5, −3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉2 5, −3
Foci 𝐹1 −2 6 , −3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 2 6 , −3
Covertices 𝐶𝑉1 0, −4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑉2 0, −2
Directrices −25 6 25 6
𝑥= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 =
12 12
Major Axis 𝑦 = −3
Minor Axis 𝑥=0